{"article":{"id":8131,"heading":"Colombia rebels free 250","author":"BBC","created":"2001-06-29 21:39:27","modified":"2005-08-15 00:35:53","last_modified":"Mon, 15 Aug 2005 07:35:53","article":"<p>ay, 28 June, 2001, 17:24 GMT 18:24 UK  <br>  <br> Colombia rebels free 250 <br><br> Colombia's largest guerrilla group has released nearly 250 captured police and soldiers in a gesture towards reviving peace talks.  <br>  <br> The Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) handed the prisoners to the government's top peace envoy, Camilo Gomez, on Thursday.  <br><br> Earlier in June the FARC released 55 sick soldiers in return for 14 rebels being held in state jails, a swap which Mr Gomez said could lead to other agreements between the two sides.  <br><br> The releases are one of the biggest steps forward in slow-moving peace negotiations between the FARC and Colombia's President Andres Pastrana, designed to bring to an end the country's 37-year-old conflict.  <br><br> Hand over <br><br> The hand over, which was presided over by the FARC's commander Manuel Marulanda, took place in a demilitarized area in southern Colombia that was ceded to the guerrillas more than two years ago.  <br><br> It was witnessed by 10 ambassadors from countries who support the government's peace negotiations with the FARC.  <br><br> In announcing the handover last week FARC spokesman Raul Reyes said it was designed to show the rebels' commitment to peace talks.  <br><br> Following the latest releases, the FARC still holds about 100 soldiers prisoner.  <br><br> Despite the talk of peace, no ceasefire has yet been agreed.  <br><br> About 750 civilians have been killed so far this year, a higher rate than in any other since the conflict started.<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","summary":"In announcing the handover last week FARC spokesman Raul Reyes said it was designed to show the rebels' commitment to peace talks.","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/2001\/06\/farc.jysowy.jpg","filesize":"14.7 kibibytes","article_url":"\/news\/2001\/06\/8131.php","image":{"original":"\/uploads\/2001\/06\/farc.jysowy.jpg","small":"\/uploads\/2001\/06\/farc.jysowy.jpgthumb.jpg"}},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}